Chapter
four begins with Jesus and His disciples going into Samaria in order to avoid
conflict with the Pharisees. Jesus then
meets a woman who was a Samaritan (an enemy of the Jews). Jesus offered this woman living water (v. 10,
13-14) which John 7:37-39 tells us refers to the Holy Spirit. Our human nature is parched, dry and barren. The Holy Spirit gives life-giving water, as
we drink we are transformed and made new and able to bear fruit! What a gift He offers her! After demonstrating His prophetic ability by
showing her His knowledge of her marital situation, Jesus proclaimed that He
was the Messiah. He says that the true
worshippers would worship in spirit and in truth (v. 23-24). This encounter with the Samaritan woman
was part of a work of preparing people for salvation (v. 34-38). Through this dialogue many became believers! After this, Jesus went to Cana, where He met
a government official from Capernaum.
This man had made a 25 mile trip in order to ask Jesus to return with
him and heal his son. While lamenting
that the people will not believe in Him unless He performs miraculous signs and
wonders, He tells this man that the child is healed (v. 50). Upon returning home, he finds out that the
child was healed, which lead to the conversion of his entire household. The boy was healed through Christ’s command
alone!
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1.
The woman in this chapter is not only an outcast
because she is a Samaritan; she is also an outcast because of her history of
sexual sin. No “honorable man” in that
society would associate with a woman like her – except Jesus. What does this show you about God’s
character?
2.
It what ways are you like the Samaritan
woman? Maybe your past is filled with
sin or shame, maybe you’re consumed with physical needs instead of the
spiritual, or maybe you are oblivious about your need for emotional or
spiritual healing. Ask the Lord to show
you these things, ask Him to show you what He offers you today, and then ask
Him what He is requiring of you in order to receive.
